New Zealand

Part of the appeal with wine from New Zealand in the UK perhaps is that so many people want to actually visit the country. That, and the fact that the quality is almost invariably very good. New Zealand came to prominence because of one wine- MarlboroughSauvignon Blanc. Its fresh, crisp and aromatic style captivated jaded palates everywhere and still does. These days there is a profusion of grape varieties and styles that can be just as good- Central OtagoPinot Noir, Hawkes BaySyrah, GisborneChardonnay, NelsonRiesling, and so on. The excitement is that the modern-day wine industry in this country only properly got started in the 1970s and so there is still plenty more potential.